TJ Cuthand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
TJ Cuthand
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| Born | 1978 (age 46–47) Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
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| Occupation | Artist |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Parent(s) | |
| Relatives | Lori Blondeau (aunt) |
TJ Cuthand, also known as Theo Cuthand and Thirza Cuthand, is a talented filmmaker, artist, writer, and curator. He is a member of the Plains Cree First Nation, and also has Scottish and Irish family roots.
TJ is known for helping create the term Indigiqueer. This word is used by modern Indigenous people who are also part of the LGBTQ community. In May 2022, TJ shared that he is a trans man and changed his name to TJ Cuthand.
He started making videos in high school. His early work had a personal, "do-it-yourself" style, like a video diary. He has continued to use this unique style in many of his projects.
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Early Life and Creative Journey
TJ Cuthand was born in 1978 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He grew up in Saskatoon, surrounded by many artists.
He learned how to make his first video from Maureen Bradley. Other important teachers and helpers in his early career included Dana Claxton, and Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Milan.
First Films and Education
In 1995, when TJ was just 16, he took part in a workshop at a film festival in Saskatoon. This led him to create his first short video, Lessons in Baby Dyke Theory. This film was shown at festivals all over the world.
Later, in 1999, he was chosen for a special artist program. There, he made Through the Looking Glass. This film was inspired by the famous book by Lewis Carroll. In his film, TJ plays Alice, talking with other characters about cultural heritage and how race is understood.
After these early successes, TJ went to the Emily Carr University of Art & Design in Vancouver. He earned a degree in film and video there.
Showing His Art
TJ Cuthand's films and art have been shown at many important places and events. These include the Whitney Biennial in the USA, the Walker Art Centre, and the Mackenzie Art Gallery. His work has also been seen at international film festivals in Germany and Brazil.
In 2019, he was featured in the Whitney Biennial, a big art show. However, he also shared his disappointment. This was because the museum's Vice-Chair, Warren Kanders, was involved in businesses that made money from war.
TJ later moved to Toronto. He wanted to be closer to more resources for filmmaking. This helped him grow as an artist and work on new short films. He has often paid for his own projects, but he is now working on films with bigger budgets too.
Coining the Term "Indigiqueer"
TJ Cuthand is known for creating the term Indigiqueer. This word is now used by many Indigenous LGBT people. It is sometimes used instead of, or in addition to, the term two-spirit.
TJ first used Indigiqueer as the title for a special program at the 2004 Vancouver Queer Film Festival. He has explained that he came up with the term because some LGBTQ Indigenous people feel it better describes their identity.
Awards and Recognition
TJ Cuthand has received several awards for his amazing work.
In 2017, he won the REVEAL Indigenous Art Award from the Hnatyshyn Foundation.
In 2021, his short film Kwêskosîw (She Whistles) won multiple awards:
- A Golden Sheaf for Short Subject-Fiction at the Yorkton Film Festival.
- The Mana Advancement of Indigenous Rights Award at the Wairoa Maori Film Festival in New Zealand.
- The Bronze Audience Award for Best Canadian Short at Fantasia.
